Bolster Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Hey I picked up this anvil and have been trying to identify it it is 200lbs and has 2 identifying marks on it a raised 20 and a 41 with a dot on either side. It is my first anvil and a excited to finally find one after a year or so of searching. I’m in the process of stripping the paint off of it, I don’t think a anvil should be painted. Sorry it’s wet in the pictures I just finished presser washing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacksmith-450 Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Looks like a Vulcan for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Hammer Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Are there any markings on the sides of the anvil? The raised letters on the base suggest that part was cast. It also is lacking the square handling holes that would be characteristic of a forged base. How is the rebound on the face? Does it ring or sound more like a thud? Maybe it's the pictures, but I'm not seeing any indication of a hard steel top either. My vote also is for a Vulcan or it could be completely cast steel. If it's a Vulcan, it's not a bad starter anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlblohm Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Look around the base between the feet. Here is a picture of a very early vulcan and you can see the arm and hammer logo in this location. How much did you pay if you dont mind me asking? What are you taking the paint off with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Vulcans do have a steel face; but it's not real thick. The very low step between the face and the cutting step is very charaisticof Vulcans. It looks to be in great shape and would make a nice "starter" anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolster Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 Rebound it pretty good I’d say but I’m new. I’ll go take some more pictures. I’m pretty sure there’s a hard steel top. On the one side I’ve paint stripped it doesn’t look like there’s any is on the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlblohm Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 The horn is also steel and not cast iron lile the rest of the base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolster Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 Rebound it pretty good I’d say but I’m new. I’ll go take some more pictures. I’m pretty sure there’s a hard steel top. On the one side I’ve paint stripped it doesn’t look like there’s any is on the side. DF97A753-3730-43AC-8E07-1E13E2F5429E.MOV I’m removing the paint with paint stripper I don’t want to remove any metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlblohm Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 I dont know if i would consider it a starter anvil. Vulcans have gotten a bad rep because of people abusing them. I wouldnt use a striker with it and try to limit your hammers to around 6 lbs and try to stay away from the edges and always hammer HOT steel and this anvil can out live you! I personally really like vulcan anvils i have a vulcan #10 100 lbs in near mint condition. The #20 on yourz is the weight. And the 41 indicates the year. So yours was made in 1941. The year america entered WW2. I am working on getting a 200 lber myself. I found one in mint condition i just need to save a little more money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolster Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 Thanks so much. I’ll take care of it. I can’t wait to use it. Looks like tomorrow’s the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 I own a Vulcan Myself---a gift after I replaced it with a swedish cast steel anvil. Note the very bad casting porosity on the horn where it broke off and the ridged face where they wore through the face. of course my most damaged anvil is probably the PW (at least that what Postman "guessed" it had been) posted above the Vulcan. It had been a complete anvil at one time as it was weight stamped more than double what the remains weigh. (I have an 1828 William Foster too missing the heel and 90% of the face...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlblohm Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Man those have definitely seen better days. Im going to have to take a look at the under side of mine to see if it is hollowed out like yours. I dont ever recall looking under mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 I'm guessing the Vulcan was used for cold shoeing---the razorback face is common with that use. You could see the piping coming out undr the steel plate on the horn. How they ever let that one pass inspection and get sold I do NOT know. Over Christmas my scrapyard owner told me they had "saved" a 50# Vulcan for me. I bought it and then passed it on to a fellow who wanted a travel anvil for armour repair. Decent shape so I sold it to him for US$1 a pound. What I object to is folks wanting Trenton, A&H, HB,PW, MH---top of the line.prices for what was the economy line anvil Note the PW has had the soft wrought iron top mushroomed---so it saw a lot of hammering *after* it was broken! I try to use even my badly abused anvils at least one project a year---so they know that I don't hold their abuse against them and still consider them *ANVILS*! (Having a "non-standard world view" doesn't bother me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolster Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 It’s a great view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlblohm Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 If this takes up too much bandwidth feel free to edit it out but here is a look at the one im working on getting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolster Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 Nice anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Nice quiet Vulcan, in good shape; I just would NOT pay the same as for a HB, PW, Trenton, A&H,...Vulcans are more of the "ford escort" of anvils: decent, usable, common; but not a top end item. Of course many people selling Anvils don't have a clue about them---I was at HF once and the salesman told me their anvil marked cast iron was made from steel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolster Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 I have also been told by a anvilfire guru it was a American made steel faced cast iron probably a Fisher-Norris. I’m just happy to finally have a real anvil they are so hard or so expensive where I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Well if the raised oval has an Eagle it's a Fisher and much better than Vulcan IMNSHO. If it's an "Arm and Hammer" its a Vulcan... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolster Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 Hmmm well there is no raised oval eagle or arm and hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlblohm Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 The horn doesn't look like a fisher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 The horn doesn't look Vulcan to me . too skinny. The 150# Vulcan I have has a very robust-blocky horn. NJAnvilman runs the Fisher Norris museum, and he is a member here. Seeing that you are up in Canada I wonder if it my be a cast steel Brooks from England. I would test under the base to see if it is cast iron or cast steel throughout. A quick hit with a sharp drill bit should show it. Gray flakes would be iron , stringy chips would be steel. As to paint...I believe every anvil I own has paint on it, and some are painted at the factory. For collectors the original paint is a plus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlblohm Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 The more i look at it things are not quite adding up. One thing i am almost certain about is it is not a brooks. The sweep under the heel is not vulcan. The horn is neither vulcan or fisher. The depression under the base is not vulcan either but i cant say about the fisher norris. 21 hours ago, Bolster said: Looking at this picture it looks cast iron to me. Any chance of getting some pictures now that the paint is stripped? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolster Posted April 8, 2018 Author Share Posted April 8, 2018 I will post more asap probably tomorrow evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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